Editor: I attended and spoke at the Town of Canmore public hearing last week regarding the disposition of Larch Park (old Daycare Lands).
There were a few things that seemed to be prevalent regarding our housing needs. The most prevalent is we need staff accommodation now and Banff needs staff accommodation now. In fact, if you did not make the meeting, you may be interested to know that a Banff councillor spoke at the meeting in favour of developing Canmore’s parks. It is clear Banff will not be building on their parks, but encourage Canmore to build on theirs.
That means, taxpayers that we have a shortage of rental units because we are providing housing to many people who work in Banff. We can’t live in Banff if we don’t work there due to their need to reside clause. As the national parks set a mandate to increase tourism, more staff housing will be needed in Banff, or should I say Canmore?
Hmmm. So Canmore taxpayers are paying tax for PAH in Canmore to help house Banff’s staff and take pressure off of their housing shortage. Canmore is supplying the housing for the whole Bow Valley.
Why are we not working together with Banff, Parks Canada, and Lafarge for that matter, as they expand, to deal with this crisis, together? Parks Canada, Lafarge and a number of large hotel chains need a lot of staff and use up a lot of the available housing. How can the little locally owned pub or restaurant compete with this? Can we not work together to obtain lands so we can provide affordable housing economically and in suitable locations. Strength in numbers. A new government that supports affordable housing. Can we solve this together as the Bow Valley, before we lose our very valuable park spaces?
Cindy Ansley,
Canmore
